Review the detail. the king in "the lady or the tiger" is described as being "semibarbaric." how is this an example of verbal irony? you can either be a barbarian or you can be civilized. it is the "lady or tiger" events which keep the king from being completely barbaric, since they give him a safe outlet for his barbarism. the king is just as barbaric as his subjects, who are entertained by the events in the arena. kings have immense power, and therefore cannot be uncivilized.